Pakistan doing right

[Nina Kaur, Amritsar]

Pak moving towards more destructive N-weapons: Experts


Agencies Posted online: Friday , May 29, 2009 at 1108 hrs


Washington : Pakistan is moving towards a nuclear weapons program that is more destructive and deliverable, a US think tank said.


"Pakistan is likely supplementing or replacing its current uranium-based nuclear weapon arsenal with plutonium-based weapons which will be more destructive and deliverable," said Institute for Science and International Security (ISIS) in response to a news article in Washington Post published on Pakistan's nuclear program.


Washington-based ISIS said 'The Washington Post' called Pakistan's imminent development of nuclear-tipped cruise missiles and perhaps thermonuclear weapons a sign of a "more mature" program, as if to imply that more destructive nuclear weapons somehow lead to a better nation.


"By incorrectly describing what is going on in Pakistan, these choices of words distort the debate before it even starts," ISIS said.


In the last two weeks, Pakistan has sought to turn the public debate over its nuclear program into a binary choice between Pakistan expanding its program and Pakistan modernizing its program, it said, adding that the truth, however, is more complex.

"Modernising" a nuclear weapons program, rather, should at most be interpreted as improving the security of existing nuclear weapons, increasing security of fissile material in storage, at military and civilian nuclear industrial sites, or in transit, ISIS said.


http://www.indianexpress.com/news/pak-moving-towards-more-destructive-nweapons-experts/467804/

[Ravinder Singh]

By Mail Today Bureau in New Delhi


PAKISTAN had positioned its military officers and fighter pilots in Sri Lanka to assist Colombo’s war against the LTTE, apparently to dilute India’s strategic influence in the island nation.


While New Delhi could not militarily assist Colombo given the political sensitivities back home, Islamabad took full advantage of it and sent its fighter pilots who participated in attacks targeting LTTE bases, particularly after 2005 when Mahinda Rajapaksa was voted as President, Pakistani daily The News and sources in New Delhi said.


Pakistani army officers, soldiers, technicians and air force (PAF) pilots had been stationed in the island nation over the last three years for training their counterparts and participating in the attacks against the Tigers.


“The Pakistani military personnel were playing different roles on different occasions during the last three years. The military under President Pervez Musharraf went an extra mile to extend assistance to Lanka,” one of the sources said.


Pakistan’s assistance was key to the Lankan army winning several battles against the LTTE. This January, Pakistan’s defence secretary Lt- Gen ( retd) Syed Athar Ali met his Lankan counterpart , Gotabaya Rajapaksa, in Rawalpindi, wherein the two countries agreed to enhance cooperation in military training, exercises and intelligence sharing regarding terrorism.


This decision was arrived at amid reports that the PAF pilots had participated in several successful air strikes against the LTTE military bases in August 2008.


There were also reports that a trained group of Pakistani officers was stationed in Colombo to guide the Sri Lankan security forces in their counter- insurgency operations.


When Lankan army chief General Sarath Fonseka visited Pakistan in May 2008, he met his counterpart, General Ashfaq Pervez Kayani, to conclude the purchase of high- tech arms for the Lankan armed forces. Fonseka had reportedly finalised a deal according to which Pakistan sold 22 al- Khalid tanks to Sri Lanka in a deal worth over Rs 500 crore.


Fonseka also gave a shopping list of weapons worth Rs 325 crore to the Pakistani military. He had further sought 2,50,000 rounds of mortar ammunition worth Rs 125 crore and hand grenades.


During the past three years, Pakistan was dispatching arms and ammunition to Sri Lanka every alternative week. Incidentally, Colombo approached India’s twin adversaries China and Pakistan for military support, which utilised the opportunity to the fullest, thereby developing strategic ties with the Lankan regime.


During its key battle to overrun the LTTE’s political capital, Kilinochchi, the Lankan army was running short of ammo but was supplied mortars and grenades every 10 days from Pakistan.


The LTTE did its best to scuttle this partnership between Islamabad and Colombo. On August 14, 2006, Pakistan High Commissioner to Sri Lanka, Bashir Wali Mohammed, narrowly escaped a blast.

[Newletter@BrassTacks]

بسم اللہ الرحمن الرحیم

In the name of Allah, the Most Merciful, the Most Kind


Dear brothers and sisters,


اسلام علیکم

Peace be upon you


1. Operation Rah e Rast

We will win war انشاءاللہ: Kiyani

http://www.dailyausaf.com/news/id/15102/


Pakistan's young heroes

These brave soldiers are pride of nation!!!


"Many brave men of the Pakistan army are falling in the line of duty. Some will be recognized, others will go into history as unsung heroes. Let's not forget them and keep their spirit alive. This is the tale of a young officer, a lieutenant, with less than six months of service, who went beyond the call of duty. After receiving an SOS call from one of the patrols, which had come under ambush laid by the militants, the commanding officer ordered to immediately dispatch a party to beat back the militants and evacuate the casualties. The lieutenant volunteered himself for the task. He was not allowed as probably he was considered too young and inexperienced. The boy felt dejected but was overwhelmed with his commitment to the country. When the party was leaving, he quietly sneaked into the vehicle, taking advantage of the darkness. When the party reached the ambush site and was dismounting, the captain leading the party noticed him. He asked him why he had come. The lieutenant replied: "Sir, I have attended anti-terrorist training and know how to tackle them. Now it's time to use those skills". Later the party successfully repulsed the militants. This officer got three bullet injuries and is now convalescing in a hospital -- and looking forward to go into action again."


http://www.thenews.com.pk/daily_detail.asp?id=179990


2. So we are ready for a war

We have the courage...we have the power to fight against these powers of evil.

http://www.jang.com.pk/jang/may2009-daily/28-05-2009/update.htm#08


3. Sindh’s attitude towards IDP’s

They are creating differences, instability and anger within the state. Political authority should take steps to eliminate these evil elements from the land of pure because IDP’s have the same rights which these people have.


http://www.dailyausaf.com/news/id/15043/


4. US: Military’s Crisis Deepens.

"The Army’s reported number of active-duty soldier suicides has climbed every year of the Afghanistan and Iraq occupations. In January, the suicide rate surpassed the combat death toll. So far this year, the Army lists 64 confirmed or suspected cases in which troops have taken their own lives. According to a May 28 Associated Press report, Fort Campbell’s 4th Brigade has just returned from a 15-month tour in Afghanistan. Such deployments have inflicted deep psychological trauma on troops and strain on military families. Head chaplain Col. Ken Brown commented to the AP, “We’ve been at war at this installation for seven years.... I think that has a cumulative effect across the force.”


http://www.wsws.org/articles/2009/may2009/suic-m29.shtml

http://www.wsws.org/articles/2009/may2009/mili-m13.shtml

http://www.wsws.org/articles/2009/feb2009/suic-f04.shtml


5. China Is Now in Firm Control of U.S. Debt Market

"It is hilarious listening to the propagandists try to "spin" the events in bond and currency markets to make it sound like the U.S. government is still operating from a position of strength."


http://seekingalpha.com/article/139505-china-is-now-in-firm-control-of-u-s-debt-markets


جذاک اللہ خیراً

Wassalam


Zaid Hamid

info@brasstacks.biz

______________________________________________________________________________


BrassTacks is an independent security consulting think tank, dedicated to creating awareness and educating the people about issues of national security. To learn more about us, please visit our website at www.brasstacks.pk. To contact Zaid Hamid directly, you can email him at info@brasstacks.biz. To subscribe or unsubscribe from this newsletter, please visit mailing list page.